DNR Fishing Report

June 3, 2014

Panfishing is starting to pick up. Channel Catfish - Slow: Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill are starting to move in close to shore. Anglers have been picking up some bluegill off the face of the dam. The action isn't real hot, but the bluegill that are being caught are nine inches plus. try using a small black jig and fishing near shore. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Fishing has been slow for bass.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is good. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are moving close to shore. Anglers should fish tight to the inside edge of the weed lines (shore side of the weed edge). Crappie - Fair: Crappies are moving close to shore. Anglers should fish tight to the inside edge of the weed lines (shore side of the weed edge). Walleye - Good: Anglers have had good success casting jigs for walleye. Try baiting your jig with a minnow or a piece of nightcrawler.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

The dredge machine is in operation on Storm Lake. Boaters should use caution and stay clear of the dredge machine, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are close to shore and anglers should do well with traditional catfish baits. Most fish are around two pounds. White Bass - Good: White bass are tight to shore. Anglers should try casting hair jigs baited with a minnow or white twisters close to shore. There are a lot of white bass hanging out around the big island and the east shore from the boat ramp north to the end of King's Pointe jetty. Walleye - Excellent: Anglers did very well for walleye last weekend and fish are continuing to be caught this week. Trolling shad colored crankbaits has produced good numbers of fish. Anglers were also catching good numbers of walleye casting jigs baited with a piece of night crawler just south of the college island. Many fish in the slot are being caught along with legal sized fish. The daily bag limit for walleye is three. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be released, and only one over 22 inches may be kept.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has been slow and few anglers have been out. Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers have been having a tough time catching channel catfish. Walleye - Slow: Walleye fishing has been slow. Yellow Bass - Slow: Anglers targeting yellow bass are picking up a few, but there are very few fish over seven inches.

Swan Lake

Panfishing has picked up. Water levels at Swan Lake are several feet low. Bluegill - Fair: Some 7-8-inch bluegill are being picked up while crappie fishing. Crappie - Good: The crappie bite has picked up. The crappies are in close to shore and anglers should focus their efforts around the jetties. Most crappies are 8-9 inches with a few 10 inchers mixed in.

Black Hawk Lake

Water clarity is excellent and lake levels are about 10 inches below crest. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers were catching bluegill around the stone pier. Most of the fish are around seven inches with a few slightly larger being picked up. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Many sub-legal largemouth bass can be caught fishing the woody shorelines along ice house point and shotgun hill. Walleye - Fair: Many sub legal walleye are being picked up. There aren't a lot of legal fish yet since restocking began after the renovation.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - No Report: Fishing after dark with bait on the bottom will produce excellent angling for this species. Bluegill - No Report: Fish the north end and the wooden docks on the east side for the best action. Cast a mini jig to locate panfish, persistence and patience will be rewarded with a mix bag of crappie, bluegill and yellow perch.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Channel Catfish - No Report: Good numbers available; fish after dark with traditional baits will result in excellent pole bending action. Walleye - Good: Boat anglers report numbers of fish being caught during the daytime. Wader fisherman angling after dark traditionally produces good catches of walleye. A jig tipped with a minnow will produce good results; however, twister tails and minnow baits will consistent action at this time of the year.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill - Good: Action at the canal area continues to be good, look for the fish to shift to the main lake as the water warms, fish wooden docks associated with deeper water for the best action. Largemouth Bass - Good: Good largemouth bass action was reported in the canals over the weekend. Walleye - Good: Best action occurs after dark. Boat and wader fisherman have been successful with good numbers of 14-16-inch size fish being caught. No bite being reported during the day.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - No Report: Good opportunities to catch angler acceptable sized and larger channel catfish. Walleye - Good: Walleye action has began with anglers catching fish using crankbaits and other traditional baits.